Shelton EP debuts in first

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 – Blake Shelton's new EP, "All About Tonight," will debut at number 1 on the SoundScan Top Country Albums chart and 6 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it his highest charting record to date. Shelton knocked out Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" from the top.

Shelton nabs the top spot this week on the Billboard and Country Aircheck (Mediabase) charts with his single, the title track. This marks his second number one of the year and seventh of his career.

The charts will be officially released Thursday.

Shelton is the only solo male country artist - one of three artists overall (Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band) - to log more than one chart-topper so far this year on Billboard's Hot Country Songs with his singles Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight.

"I've been telling people in interviews that if someone had never heard my music before and asked me what album they should buy of mine, I would recommend this one because it truly is the best work I have done," Shelton said. "It's a validation for me to know that fans feel the same way about this album, and nice to know that you've done something right."

Shelton's latest has six new tracks, all produced by Scott Hendricks. His first EP, "Hillbilly Bone," was released earlier this year and debuted at 3 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and 2 on the Top Country Albums Chart.

CD reviews for Blake Shelton

This six-song "Blake Shelton Live EP" seems a little odd. It's not as though Shelton had an especially noteworthy tour to document. Besides, at only six songs long, it's a relatively short document, anyhow. While it may be little more than a post-it note of a project, though, it also packs a powerful punch.
You recognize right away the large amount of enthusiasm the act of singing to an audience brings out of Shelton. When compared to the recorded versions of these hits, »»»

Blake Shelton makes it abundantly clear that this is not going to be a light-hearted listen, despite his public demeanor. "I have never recorded a more personal or reflective album in my career," Shelton wrote on the cover insert. He said the 15-song release "touches both the highs and low of past year of my life." And that would first and foremost include his very public split with Miranda Lambert, which happened quickly and suddenly.
Shelton forlornly looks back at a »»»

It's impossible to get away from the fact that one's perception of Blake Shelton's music has changed significantly since he began his role as a judge on The Voice. His music hasn't been altered all that much after he became a TV star, but we now know him as the affable, yet extremely competitive, judge on the popular NBC singing show. His likeability simply makes us more likely to enjoy his music a little more, and with "Bringing Back the Sunshine," Shelton has »»»

Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»

Concert Review: Outlaw likes it hot –
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Concert Review: AmericanaFest stays ahead of the curve –
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